Meet the Winners Created by Mocha Group, the AHIA’s were launched due to national demand for a platform to highlight business achievement and recognise excellence, providing an exciting snapshot of the impressive quality of the industry. Learn more about the Winners as we congratulate them all in this special AHIA Winners coverage. AUSTRALIAN SALON BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Sponsored By Mocha Group Circles of Hair State Salon Business of the Year WA/NT Sponsored By DeLorenzo Circles of Hair Business Director/Owner of the Year Sponsored by Kitomba Sharlene Lee, Circles of Hair Whilst clients of the Fitzgerald Street and Subiaco locations are well aware of their legendary status, the industry is also left with no doubt that the best hairdressers are based right here in Perth. These are far from the first national awards for the team, having previously been named, AHIA Australian Salon of the Year 2020 plus Hair Expo Salon Business of the Year 2019 and 2018. The Circles team are also renowned for their work with celebrities including hometown Perth actress Katherine Langford, providing her with a showstopping copper makeover that made headlines around the globe including within Elle, Girlfriend, In Style, MTV, Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Refinery29 and W Magazine. The goto salon for Perth’s social set for special events and festivals, they also work with local influencers including @graciepiscopo, @madalingiorgetta, @emdavies__ and @rahneebransby. With a team of 51, Sharlene Lee, owner/director leads by example still working on the floor as well as managing operations. In 28 years of business, she has nurtured and developed countless hairdressers and so many remain part of the family from Apprentice and beyond. Staff can generate 6 figure salaries, her diversification with products, loyalty clubs and more have to be seen to be believed and with an ideology to empower from within, this powerhouse businesswoman is a credit to the industry.
VIDAL SASSOON HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR Sponsored By Mocha Group Helen Owens Helen’s impact on the Brisbane community cannot be overemphasised such has been her commitment to helping those less fortunate. Philanthropy for this amazing individual started young when she used to be a part of the doorknocking team for the Red Cross and various animal charities and in the past 19 years of running her incredibly successful business she has raised over $250,000 by way of donations, gifts and fundraising for charities, not to mention the many hours of time she and her beloved staff, friends, family and colleagues put in to the running of major charity balls, community events, blanket drives, fashion parades, dress up days, reduced service offerings and local community based events. In 2022, she launched the Phoenix Project during the seemingly continuous adversity of fires, floods, pandemics, heartbreaks and hardships for regular people caring for those grieving the loss of family, home, income and safety. Her salons have completed 4 Charity Bridge to Brisbane walks, multiple 24-hour hair cut charity events, support Share the Dignity, the ponytail project and Shave For A Cure. Most recently she is a major supporter of RizeUp Australia Domestic and Family Violence Charity, a national organisation whose mission is to drive awareness of domestic and family violence within society by generating life-changing, practical support for the families affected, giving them the hope, empowerment and ability to move on to a life free from violence.
